edited by: Kate,
Tennessee Editor
Greg Johnson doesn’t think it matters who the Tennessee Democrats run for Congress:
After all, it really doesn’t matter how conservative a Democrat from Cookeville or Dresden might be. Obama will still be president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be the boss of congressional Democrats, and their agenda will still [...]
Chip Forrester has much love for Phil Bredesen:
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester applauds Gov. Phil Bredesen for using federal stimulus dollars to create much-needed jobs in Lauderdale County where the unemployment rate is nearly 19 percent, the highest in the state.
“Gov. Bredesen’s unique plan to use that money [...]
Ken Swanson, a member of the Metro Human Relations Commission, declined to name the council member during a public meeting and a subsequent interview. But the message the elected official relayed was clear, Swanson said.
“I received a call from a member of council who said he felt [...]
From the blog that set off the scandal:
The spokesman for U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul has resigned after two political blogs claimed he had blamed the U.S. government for the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and had allowed racist remarks to appear on his myspace.com Web site [...]
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement upon passage of S. 1101, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, through the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The legislation would establish a new governing entity for individuals of native Hawaiian descent.
“I’m disappointed that the Senate Committee on [...]
Tom Humphrey on our contested congressional races:
At any rate, we are assured of three fresh faces in the Tennessee congressional delegation. And that is a remarkable thing. With no redistricting required.
[...]Davidson County Republican Party leaders filed paperwork this week to hold a Republican primary for the highly coveted seat held by current clerk Vic Lineweaver, who attracted a field of competitors after media reports last year revealed he spent considerable time at his Bellevue house during works [...]
Because “Always bet on Zelenik” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
UPDATE: The press release:
GALLATIN Tenn. – Republican Senate Caucus Chair Diane Black (R-Gallatin) will today begin assembling a campaign for Congress in Tennessee’s 6th District.
“Our country is in trouble and our government is way off track,” [...]
Now this is interesting:
However, a closer look at the source of his campaign funding reveals that Mr. Fincher, along with his supporters, might be part of the problem rather than a possible solution. Over 90 percent of Fincher’s campaign funding came from farming families that have been recipients to [...]
An old favorite may return to Congress:
Former Rep. James Traficant, who was recently released from prison after serving seven years for corruption, said Thursday that he is “proud of being an ex-con” and may try to return to Congress.
Traficant, a Democrat who was elected to nine terms [...]
From the AP:
The State Funding Board has delayed setting the revenue projections that the governor and lawmakers use to prepare Tennessee’s annual spending plan.
Treasurer David Lillard said at a meeting Thursday that “staff is not ready” to proceed with the revenue estimates. He asked that another meeting be scheduled [...]
From the presser:
State Senator Bill Ketron announced that he is endorsing Jim Tracy for Congress today. Senator Ketron was rumored to be a strong contender for the GOP nomination for the District 6 seat, but he will instead be endorsing what he called “the best possible candidate for the job.”
“Jim [...]
Via Tom Humphrey:
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit today upheld a lower court’s ruling that the Rolex Masterpiece now belongs to the government.
The watch was a gift to Ford from real estate developer Rusty Hyneman, but was seized by federal agents in 2005 during the Tennessee [...]
Republican Rand Paul has banked an additional $236,000 for his Senate campaign using the same type of Internet fundraiser that helped finance his father’s presidential race last year.
That money came in on Wednesday in a 1-day fundraiser that pushed Paul’s total contributions to nearly $1.7 million heading [...]
From Roll Call:
In most years, Senate deliberations over a nomination for administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, which leads American efforts to fight poverty and disease in the developing world, would pass without note.
Bill Frist, Special to Roll Call This year is different. American efforts to [...]
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today announced their endorsement of Jim Kyle for Governor of Tennessee.
“Our Union decided to support Jim’s campaign because of his commitment to working families, improving public education, and making healthcare more affordable and accessible to all Tennesseans,” says Doug Collier, President [...]
He just wanted you to know that:
Today, following a visit to Decatur, Tennessee in Meigs County, we announced that Bill has now campaigned in all 95 counties of the state. He is the first candidate for governor to visit every county in 2009. Today’s announcement means that Bill now [...]
From a press release:
Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for November was 10.3 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from the October rate of 10.5 percent.
“As the year ends, we’re seeing evidence the economy is bottoming out and beginning to show some modest [...]
It would have been a lot cooler if she followed this tweet with one saying “…just like we’re gonna do to A.J. McCall in August.”
[...]The Memphis Flyer’s editor on the congressional situation in Tennessee
The Democrats have held a 5-4 advantage in the state’s nine congressional districts. Two of these seats are now at obvious risk. A third, the 4th District, is held by Lincoln Davis, a blue-dog Democrat (like Tanner and Gordon) who [...]
The president of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition says she did not get a positive response to her holiday email blast from Rep. Jimmy Matlock:
Apparently, Rep. Matlock doesn’t appreciate other groups usurping his Christmas, “…this is not a holiday season, it is a Christmas season. We celebrate Christmas, [...]
And first prize was kind of a no-brainer:
Sen. Paul Stanley, R-Germantown, who started 2009 with the most noxious piece of “family values” tub-thumping to come down the legislative pike in years: a bill that would ban gay and lesbian couples—and really, any unmarried couple—from adopting children. In case the [...]
Ken Whitehouse reports on an attempt to prevent convention center skeptic Kevin Sharp off the federal bench:
The petition was started by local public relations heavyweight Dave Cooley. Cooley, a former deputy governor of Tennessee, is president of Cooley Public Strategies and lists the Music City Center Coalition among [...]
From Reclaim the Media:
On Dec. 16, the House of Representatives passed the Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147) by voice vote. The bill would allow for the creation of hundreds, possibly thousands, of new, low power FM (LPFM) radio stations dedicated to broadcasting community news and local perspectives to [...]
Pro-Wrestler Kane speaks:
Even government institutions like the FDIC and the SEC undermine the market’s ability to regulate itself by promoting a false sense of confidence among the public. The ostensible purpose of the FDIC is to bring stability to the banking system by insuring deposits up to a specified [...]
In 2012, tea party anger could use this man as a conduit for their anger:
Johnson actually endorsed Paul for president last year, and he shares some of the Texas congressman’s libertarian alarmist views — but without the penchant for gold standard wonkiness.
David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato [...]
A commenter wants to know:
I am weary of folks wanting to “take back government”. What are you going to do with it??? Do you think you can do better? You, an angry mob of tea partiers who can’t even define socialism?? Give it a rest. Come up with definite [...]
From a press release:
NASHVILLE – Representative Vance Dennis (R-Savannah) has been appointed as Chairman of the House Civil Practice and Procedure Subcommittee, Speaker Kent Williams announced today.
“Representative Vance Dennis has proven himself as a valuable legislator” said Speaker Williams. “His legal experience will serve him well as he leads the [...]
From Roll Call:
Blue Dog lobbyists also agreed that Tanner could come with a hefty price tag. They speculated that the seventh-ranking Democrat on the tax-writing panel could garner an annual salary of $1 million or more at a large lobbying shop.
“Someone with his seniority on the Ways and Means [...]
After they announced their retirements:
The list of 39 House Democrats who voted against the legislation reads like a who’s who of the most vulnerable freshman and second-term members facing tough re-election campaigns next year – with many of them hailing from the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Coalition, members who frequently [...]
The latest release from the Lt. Governor:
Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) today harshly criticized the Health Services and Development Agency for voting to locate a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic two-tenths of a mile from a Catholic high school and home for retired priests.
“It is shocking that the HSDA would [...]
Tracy, 53, declared his candidacy hours after Gordon’s retirement announcement. An insurance agent who lives in Shelbyville, Tracy has served for five years in the state Senate. Tracy said he expects to emphasize his experience as a business owner and a lawmaker while campaigning.
“Being in the state Senate, [...]
Former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon (R) is paying her campaign manager, David Cappiello, a salary of about $280,000 to run her effort to unseat Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D) — possibly a record for campaigns in Connecticut.
It’s not unheard of for well-seasoned campaign talent to make [...]
Andy Sher reports on the expressed concerned:
“Will we give the state of Tennessee due justice here?” said Rep. Tommie Brown, D-Chattanooga, a House Education Committee member. “Will we examine the issue? Will we debate the issue?”
Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, said he believes he and fellow senators can act on [...]
So says the Metro Pulse:
This week Gordon, 60, announced he will not run for re-election. Coming on the heels of the retirement of U.S. Rep. John Tanner, it is a double blow for Democrats. The Democrats may be able to hang onto Tanner’s seat, depending on the viability of [...]
State Senator hits the Jesus card hard in one of his first speeches after announcing for Congress:
Tracy told the audience gathered to personally submit to Jesus as Christ and have a relationship with him despite what others think.
“We’re persecuted because we are connected to Jesus,” Tracy said. “You spread [...]
A constituent writes about his favorite elected representative:
So, a short while ago, I sent an e-mail to my Senators about the health care bill, urging them not to vote for it. Today, I was pleasantly surprised with an e-mail I received from the only representative who has cared to [...]
Sean Braisted on the Democratic missteps on health care:
We are now looking down the barrel at a $800bn plan that has the mandate he so eloquently argued against in his campaign, he’s joined Big Pharma in stopping drug re-importation, and all of this involving of Congress crap has led [...]
But while the United States will not collapse with a bang a la Soviet Union, a process of gradual waning of American power has been taking place for a while, with the notion of a U.S. monopoly in the international system being replaced with the concept of [...]
From NewsChannel5.com:
An act of good will could be illegal when it comes to handing out food to the homeless. A state law aims to protect the health of Nashville’s needy, but some are concerned it’s pushing away help.
The law does not apply to religious or civic groups, which are [...]
Since they have started loading the tax information from counties and crossing it with different databases, they have already found nearly 6,000 businesses that have not been paying any taxes.
In the past, county clerks have collected the taxes and the money has been split between county and state [...]
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen plans to use federal stimulus money to create 175 jobs in Lauderdale County, which has the state’s highest unemployment rate.
Bredesen said Wednesday that the jobs include 50 highway maintenance worker positions within the state Transportation Department and 125 positions that will be filled [...]
After the revelation today that Sen. Jim Tracy voted in a few Democratic primaries, Tom Humphrey gets to wondering:
It’s not unreasonable to speculate, however, that Politico’s Washington-wise Josh Kraushaar, who posted the item, didn’t just happen to drop by the Bedford County Election Commission office and notice Tracy’s voting [...]
Just how angry is the public with the country’s two leading political parties? Angry enough that the conservative, libertarian-leaning Tea Party movement is more popular than either the Democratic or the Republican parties, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
Pat Choate opines:
The Treasury Department reports that October was the ninth consecutive month of declining loans by the 22 top recipients of federal bailout funds. Yet, most of these banks are also reporting significant gains in profits. The vital question is: Why are these banks not lending more?
What yanks my chain the most is the hypocrisy. Republicans conveniently forget their own rhetoric when it’s time for funding requests. Yet that’s all we hear from these clowns. “Spending is out of control, blah, blah, snore.”
Spending is a big problem for the GOP. They love [...]
Lawmakers in both houses of Congress have introduced legislation to pay for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by using a method that’s a throwback to prior U.S. conflicts: war bonds.
[...]Good thing they did a study because I would have totally thought the opposite:
They’re on the frontline of the workday world – filling our coffee cups, trimming our hair, holding Sunday open houses – but workers in some service jobs in Tennessee are at a higher risk of not [...]
“As a former small business owner, the Blue Dogs share my strong belief in fiscal discipline and responsibility,” the Fort Collins Democrat said in a prepared statement. “Colorado families and small businesses watch their bottom line and have to live within their means, and Congress should be [...]
From a press release:
MEMPHIS, TN – The Iron Workers of the Tennessee Valley today announced their statewide endorsement of Jim Kyle for Tennessee’s next Governor. The union represents more than 3,000 ironworkers and their families across the State of Tennessee.
“It’s time to unite behind Jim Kyle as the best choice [...]
And yet … in the middle of this mess, 409 members of Congress were all in agreement on one thing this week — that the Miles Davis jazz album Kind of Blue was great, legendary, world-changing and full of coolness. And even though Miles’ response to [...]
And?
But Tracy’s voting history could become a campaign issue in the Republican primary: Election records from Bedford County show that he voted in six Democratic primaries between 1990-2002, including the 2000 presidential primary between then vice-president Al Gore and Bill Bradley.
During that time period, he voted in only two [...]
…to get tomatoes to throw at her at Costco.
[...]From the Commercial Appeal:
The federal grand jury investigating former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton disbanded today without returning an indictment. The grand jury completes its two-year term at the end of the month and has no more hearing dates.
Under investigation the past 19 months, Herenton, 69, received a target letter [...]
Betsy Phillips sums up her feelings about the Tennessee Democratic Party as only she can:
But let me just say, I would rather, all day, fight with a breed of Tennessee Democrats that will storm around, yelling and laughing loudly and wearing their heart on their sleeves, than a breed [...]
The nationals say Wamp’s “bailout problem” is not unique:
While the issue will be wielded against members of both parties throughout the next 11 months, it could be particularly potent in some race-to-the-right GOP primaries. The Time poll showed 71 percent of Republicans and 64 percent of independents opposed to [...]
Sean Braisted wants you to know that “in case anyone out there doesn’t know that Andy Sere is a gay-baiting lying piece of ****.”
CONTEXT: A screenshot from a recent email from National Republican Congressional Spokesman Andy Sere
[...]The 3rd District GOP congressional candidate reminds you to celebrate Jesus’s birthday:
[...]1. Kim is qualified. She had been a leader in the House and as an appointed senior advisor for one of TN’s best Governors’s, being Bredesen.
2. Kim has lived the American dream - adopted by two school teachers she has beat the odds to become everything she [...]
Tea Party activists debate being big “T” or little “T”:
She said there’s a split within the multifaceted movement over whether tea party should be big “T” or little “t.” In other words, do the activists form their own party, officially, or try to influence the composition of the existing [...]
The Daily News Journal looks forward to who will fill them:
But while Gordon’s seniority will take years to replace, his decision to step aside will create an exciting election next year in the primaries and the general election.
Republican state Sen. Jim Tracy and Lou Ann Zelenik, former chairman of [...]
The WSJ reports:
The expenses racked up by U.S. lawmakers traveling here for a conference last month included one for the “control room.”
Besides rooms for sleeping, the 12 members of the House of Representatives rented their hotel’s fireplace-equipped presidential suite and two adjacent rooms. The hotel cleared out the beds [...]
R. Neal says what we got in insurance company takeover of our health care system.
[...]Not exactly, says the Wall Street Journal:
Continuing the next day on the newspaper’s Web site, he decided that the blame for this unhappy situation lay with the newspaper industry’s workforce, which is apparently made up of the wrong kind of people. According to “surveys,” Mr. Alexander wrote, “newsrooms . [...]
Jimmy Duncan on how he can take credit for bringing federal money home to his district and vote against the bill which appropriates it:
U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., R-Knoxville, took credit for $2.75 million that will flow into his district for six projects and partial credit for another [...]
From Joey Garrison:
“We are preparing ourselves in case we are facing yet another budget reduction,” said Donna Nicely, director of the Nashville Public Library. “This is our way of trying to plan ahead and be ready because the next budget reduction is going to have immense effects on the [...]
A message from the Tennessee Democratic Party:
With the recent announcements by Congressmen Bart Gordon and John Tanner that they were retiring from Congress at the end of their current terms, Tennessee Republicans are busy spinning their public relations machine into high gear. They are crisscrossing the state and the [...]
While I and all Alaskans witness the impacts of changes in weather patterns firsthand, I have repeatedly said that we can’t primarily blame man’s activities for those changes. And while I did look for practical responses to those changes, what I didn’t do was hamstring Alaska’s job creators [...]
Written by Ken Whitehouse:
According to witnesses, Party’s ominous final words to be etched onto his gravestone were: “Moderate Republicans will resurrect me once they get a load of them crazy-ass tea baggers.”
Party is survived by the cities of Memphis and Nashville. In lieu of flowers, it has been requested [...]
“One reason to make (his retirement announcement) early was to have the opportunity to make decisions like this over the course of the year,” Eubanks said. Gordon announced Monday he won’t seek re-election at the end of 2010.
Among his options is to contribute to other federal candidates, [...]
Former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton’s attorney said he’s cautiously optimistic following the cancellation Tuesday of a grand jury meeting, a sign his client won’t be indicted — at least not this year.
Herenton attorney Robert Spence said he was “very much encouraged” by the development, yet conceded his [...]
At least not anytime soon:
Davis has an underwhelming $121,000 in his campaign account and as recently as two years ago had talked openly about his desire to leave Congress to run for governor.
Davis — who, like Gordon and Tanner is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally [...]
Tennessee is not gonna be at a loss for politics over the next year:
In 2010, no state will experience more congressional election action than Tennessee.
One House incumbent from the state is expected to face a serious challenge in November. At least two incumbents, one in each party, are [...]
Cara Kumari says that guns in bars enthusiasts are trying to get right with the court that throw the law out as unconstitutionally vague by drawing up a new proposal. She says the new proposal says that if a place serves liquor you can carry your gun but [...]
A press release entitled ‘Key Reporters and Republican Leaders across Tennessee Join Zach Wamp in Asking: “What’s Haslam Hiding?” cites no reporters, only columnists, commentators and editorials:
Nashville, Tenn. – Zach Wamp, Republican candidate for Governor today again asked the question that a growing chorus of other Republican candidates and leaders, [...]
From RealClearPolitics:
RCP: Two Democrats from swing districts in Tennessee have now announced they will retire at the end of the 111th Congress. Do you think these signal what will be a difficult 2010 for Democrats nationwide? And what does this say about the political landscape in your state?
BLACKBURN: As [...]
CNN:
Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman told CNN Tuesday that he has not ruled out running as a Republican in 2012.
Lieberman told CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash Tuesday that the move remained a legitimate, if unlikely, option. “I don’t know what I’ll run as,” he said. “I like being [...]
From email fundraising appeal:
My son Rand has the status quo running scared in his race for Kentucky Senate. First, he outraised his opponent. Next, Rand took the lead in the polls. And now, the party insiders are scrambling.
We just found out that the National Republican Senatorial Committee has formed a [...]
From Hank Hayes:
Before the luncheon, Wamp was asked whether he supports the reinstatement of state House Speaker Kent Williams of Elizabethton back into the Tennessee Republican Party (TRP).
At its December meeting, TRP’s executive committee chose not to consider letting Williams back into the party. He was expelled from the [...]
“When a teacher is granted tenure, it’s something that you need to have some objective criterial you looked at and not simply the opinion of one or two people,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey said the state has had education data available since enacting the current school funding formula in [...]
Tennessee’s Supreme Court Tuesday granted an extension of time to attorneys for convicted killer Gaile Owens, whom the state intends to put to death for her part in the 1985 murder-for-hire plot that left her husband dead. Owens’ team now has until Feb. 5 to respond to [...]
